Counseling and Family Therapy Center

05/31/2026

Today’s topic: Circumstantial Thinking

Have you ever asked someone a simple question and received a very long answer with lots of extra details before they finally got to the point?

That is called circumstantial thinking.

Circumstantial thinking is a thought process in which a person includes many unnecessary details before eventually answering the original question. The person stays connected to the topic and ultimately reaches the point, but takes a long, winding path to get there.

Example

Question: “Did you make it to work today?”

Response:
“Well, I woke up at 6:00. My alarm didn’t go off the first time, so I had to reset it. Then I let the dog out, made coffee, couldn’t find my keys, and had to stop for gas on the way… but yes, I made it to work.”

✅ The question was answered.

✅ The person stayed on topic.

It just took a lot of extra details to get there.

Circumstantial vs. Tangential Thinking

Circumstantial Thinking
Eventually answers the question.

Tangential Thinking
Drifts away from the question and never returns to it.

Why It Matters

Changes in thought process can occur in a variety of mental health, medical, neurological, and developmental conditions. Understanding these patterns can help us communicate more effectively, recognize symptoms when they occur, and reduce stigma surrounding mental health.

Psychosis is not a diagnosis. It is a group of symptoms that can occur in many different conditions. Some changes in thought process may be seen in psychosis, but they can also occur in other disorders and circumstances.

Education reduces stigma. Understanding creates compassion.

Tomorrow: Tangential Thinking

05/30/2026

Today’s topic: Preoccupied Thought Content

Preoccupied thought content occurs when a person’s mind becomes heavily focused on a particular topic, concern, belief, or idea.

Because that topic takes up so much mental space, it may come up repeatedly in conversations, even when discussing something else.

Examples may include:
• Constant worries about health or medical problems
• Repeated focus on relationships or family concerns
• Ongoing concerns about finances, legal issues, or safety
• Persistent thoughts about grief, loss, trauma, or guilt

A person with preoccupied thought content is usually able to answer questions and communicate clearly, but their thoughts often return to the topic that is occupying their mind.

Preoccupied thought content can occur in many different conditions, including:
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Trauma-related disorders
• Grief and loss
• Psychotic disorders
• Medical or neurological conditions

Having preoccupied thought content does NOT automatically mean someone is experiencing psychosis.

A symptom is not a diagnosis.

Our goal is to educate, reduce stigma, and help people better understand symptoms that are often misunderstood.

Education reduces stigma. Understanding creates compassion.

Tomorrow: Circumstantial Thinking

05/30/2026

We’ve already discussed hallucinations and delusions. Next, we’ll explore how psychosis and other mental health conditions can affect thinking, communication, and behavior.

Topics coming next:

🧠 Preoccupied Thought Content
🧠 Circumstantial Thinking
🧠 Tangential Thinking
🧠 Flight of Ideas
🧠 Thought Blocking
🧠 Loose Associations
🧠 Pressured Speech
🧠 Disorganized Thinking
🧠 Incoherent Speech (“Word Salad”)
🧠 Disorganized Behavior
🧠 Negative Symptoms

Psychosis is not a diagnosis. It is a group of symptoms that can occur in many different mental health, medical, neurological, trauma-related, and substance-related conditions.

Our goal is to educate, reduce stigma, and help people better understand symptoms that are often misunderstood.

💙 Education reduces stigma. Understanding creates compassion.

05/28/2026

Today’s topic: Delusions

A delusion is a fixed belief that stays strong even when there is evidence showing it is not true. To the person experiencing it, the belief feels completely real.

Delusions are symptoms of psychosis and can occur in several mental health disorders, medical conditions, neurological conditions, severe sleep deprivation, trauma-related disorders, or substance/substance withdrawal conditions.

Common Types of Delusions

* Persecutory Delusions
Believing someone is being watched, followed, harmed, poisoned, targeted, or plotted against.

* Grandiose Delusions
Believing someone has special powers, abilities, wealth, fame, or an important mission.

* Delusions of Reference
Believing TV, music, social media posts, conversations, or random events contain secret messages directed specifically at them.

* Jealous Delusions
Believing a partner is cheating despite little or no evidence.

* Somatic Delusions
False beliefs involving the body or health, such as believing bugs are under the skin or organs are damaged despite medical reassurance.

* Religious Delusions
Fixed religious beliefs that are outside a person’s usual cultural or religious beliefs.

* Erotomanic Delusions
Believing another person — often someone famous or unavailable — is secretly in love with them.

* Thought Broadcasting
Believing other people can hear or know one’s thoughts.

* Thought Insertion
Believing thoughts are being placed into one’s mind by another person or outside force.

* Thought Withdrawal
Believing thoughts are being removed or stolen from one’s mind.

A person experiencing delusions is not “attention seeking” or “making it up.” The experience feels real to them, even when others do not share the belief.

05/27/2026

Today’s topic: Hallucinations.

Hallucinations are false sensory perceptions that occur without an external stimulus. A person may hear, see, smell, taste, or feel something that is not actually present — but to them, the experience feels completely real.

Examples may include:• Hearing voices or sounds others do not hear• Seeing people, shadows, or objects that are not there• Feeling sensations such as bugs crawling on the skin• Smelling odors with no identifiable source

Hallucinations fall under the category of psychosis, but psychosis can have many different causes and does not automatically mean schizophrenia.

Possible causes can include:• Mental health disorders• Trauma• Substance use or withdrawal• Sleep deprivation• Neurological or medical conditions• Infections, brain injuries, or medication reactions

Psychosis may be:• organic (medical)• genetic• trauma-related• substance-induced• stress-induced

Education reduces stigma. Understanding symptoms helps people seek appropriate support, assessment, and treatment.

05/26/2026

Mental health education matters. Over the next several days, we’ll be breaking down and explaining different symptoms and experiences that often get misunderstood in mental health conversations.

04/28/2026

04/26/2026

Roni and Kris had the opportunity to bring a little bit of Counseling & Family Therapy Center to the 2026 National Interscholastic Cycling Association Arkansas Coach Retreat. They had an absolute blast sharing and connecting around Coaching Anxiety and Neurodiversity.

We’re grateful for the work NICA Arkansas is doing to support coaches and riders across the state, thank you for letting us be a part of it!
Thank you The.Arkansas.Traveler for the awesome pictures.

02/28/2026

🇺🇸 VETERANS & MILITARY FAMILIES — WE ACCEPT TRICARE

Did you know Counseling & Family Therapy Center is in-network with TRICARE?

We have proudly served veterans and their families in Harrison for years — and being in-network makes accessing care simpler and more affordable.

If you are Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, retired military, or a family member covered under TRICARE, you can see us in-network.

Local. Experienced. Trauma-informed. Here when you’re ready.

📞 Call our office today to schedule.
📩 Or message us directly for more information.

Serving those who serve our country is an honor we deeply respect.

👉 Please share with the veterans and military families in your life.

02/27/2026

✨ Community Update

Serving Harrison well means staying accessible.

We’re now in-network with Municipal Health Benefit Program.

City of Harrison employees can now use their municipal health benefits at Counseling & Family Therapy Center.

We’re grateful to serve our local community and look forward to continuing that work.

Questions about coverage? Our office is happy to help.

📍 213 W Rush Ave, Harrison
📞 870-754-4907